Jon Stewart says farewell as 'The Daily Show' host

Updated 4:35 pm, Thursday, August 6, 2015

Jon Stewart says goodbye on Thursday, after 16 years on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" that established him as America's foremost satirist of politicians and the media. (Aug. 6)

Media: San Francisco Chronicle

NEW YORK — Jon Stewart says goodbye on Thursday, after 16 years on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” that established him as America’s foremost satirist of politicians and the media.

Stewart, 52, said last winter that he was getting restless and it was time to move on. Trevor Noah replaces him as host next month.

Armed with a razor-sharp wit and research team adept at finding video evidence of hypocrisy or unintentional comedy among the nation’s establishment, Stewart turned a sleepy basic-cable entertainment show into a powerful cultural platform. Though guests for Thursday’s show weren’t announced, Bruce Springsteen, who has appeared on “The Daily Show” multiple times, and members of the E Street Band were seen entering the studio before the taping for the final show began.

He turned the spotlight on himself during his penultimate show Wednesday, noting how institutions he had supposedly eviscerated were stronger than ever.

“The world is demonstrably worse than when I started,” Stewart wailed. “Have I caused this?”

The comic became America’s foremost satirist of politicians and the media. He turned a basic-cable entertainment show into a powerful cultural platform.

The comic became America’s foremost satirist of politicians and the media. He turned a basic-cable entertainment show into a powerful cultural platform.

Photo: Brad Barket, Associated Press

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Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," interviews Sen. Bob Dole on the set of the comedy show Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, in New York. The two-part interview will air later in the evening and on Wednesday on Comedy Central. (AP Photo/Comedy Central, Al Levine) less

Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," interviews Sen. Bob Dole on the set of the comedy show Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, in New York. The two-part interview will air later in the evening and on Wednesday on Comedy ... more

Jon Stewart poses backstage after his show, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," won an Emmy for both best variety, music or comedy series and best writing for a variety, music or comedy series at the 58th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles August 27, 2006 REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES)
Ran on: 08-28-2006
Emmys host Conan O'Brien performs with dancers in the opening skit of the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday. less

Jon Stewart poses backstage after his show, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," won an Emmy for both best variety, music or comedy series and best writing for a variety, music or comedy series at the 58th annual ... more

Bolivian President Evo Morales, left, speaks with Daily Show host Jon Stewart, right, on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" in New York, Tuesday Sept. 25, 2007. Morales's translator is seen at ... more

In this photo provided by Comedy Central, Jon Stewart, right, greets Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during the taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Monday, Oct. 30, 2006, in ... more

Photo: Kevin Fitzsimons, AP

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Jon Stewart from Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."

Jon Stewart from Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."

Photo: Norman Jean Roy, Comedy Central

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Jon Stewart, center, reacts after "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" won the award for best writing for a variety music or comedy series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photos/Mark J. Terrill) less

Jon Stewart, center, reacts after "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" won the award for best writing for a variety music or comedy series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los ... more

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, AP

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In this Sept. 21, 2008 file photo, Stephen Colbert, left, and Jon Stewart make an award presentation at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

In this Sept. 21, 2008 file photo, Stephen Colbert, left, and Jon Stewart make an award presentation at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

Photo: Mark J. Terrill, AP

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WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 30: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart speak during the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" on the National Mall on October 30, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Rally was hosted by Jon Stewart of the Daily Show and Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report and was attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators with musical guests including Sheryl Crow, Tony Bennett and Ozzy Osbourne. less

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 30: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart speak during the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" on the National Mall on October 30, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Rally was hosted by Jon Stewart of ... more

Photo: Kris Connor, Getty Images

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FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2014 file photo, Jon Stewart poses for a portrait in promotion of his film, "Rosewater," in New York. The comedian, who grew up in Lawrenceville, N.J., is among 13 people with New Jersey ties to be named Friday to the state Hall of Fame. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File) less

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2014 file photo, Jon Stewart poses for a portrait in promotion of his film, "Rosewater," in New York. The comedian, who grew up in Lawrenceville, N.J., is among 13 people with New Jersey ... more

Photo: Victoria Will, Associated Press

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This Oct. 18, 2012 file photo shows host Jon Stewart during a taping of "The Daily Show with John Stewart", in New York. Comedy Central says Jon Stewart will take a break from "The Daily Show" starting in June to direct and produce his first feature film. The network said Tuesday, March 5, 2013 that correspondent-writer John Oliver will host the fake news show for the eight weeks of original episodes scheduled during Stewart's hiatus. The British-born Oliver has been a "Daily Show" regular since 2006. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, file) less

This Oct. 18, 2012 file photo shows host Jon Stewart during a taping of "The Daily Show with John Stewart", in New York. Comedy Central says Jon Stewart will take a break from "The Daily Show" starting in June ... more

Photo: Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press

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FILE - In this July 21, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama, left, talks with Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" during a taping in New York. Stewart reacted to a Politico story headlined "Jon Stewart's Secret White House Visits." The article said Stewart had met with the president in 2011 and again last year. Stewart noted that he entered the White House through its public entrance and that both meetings were listed in the White House visitor logs, available for anyone to see. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) less

FILE - In this July 21, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama, left, talks with Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" during a taping in New York. Stewart reacted to a Politico story ... more

Photo: Evan Vucci, Associated Press

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FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2010 file photo, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, left, and Bill O'Reilly tape an interview in New York. Stewart and O'Reilly, a celebrity odd couple with a history of public political feuds, tangle in a sold-out debate in Washington. The so-called "Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium" offers a jocular sideshow to the series of three more somber debates this month between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) less

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2010 file photo, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, left, and Bill O'Reilly tape an interview in New York. Stewart and O'Reilly, a celebrity odd couple with a history of public political ... more

His only solace was that his beloved New York Mets were in first place on the day of his last show.

Fellow comic Louis C.K., his guest Wednesday, noted that Stewart was able to keep his show fresh and funny for a long time, keeping up with the world’s changes. “It really is one of the great comedy accomplishments of all time,” he said.

A line of people hoping to get in to the taping gathered outside of the Comedy Central studio on Manhattan’s far West Side. First in line was Chad Lance, a 27-year-old musician from Philadelphia who arrived at 2:30 a.m., and said he couldn’t wait to see what happened.

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica Vitovitch was anxiously waiting to see if she’d get a seat.

“I think Stewart has contributed so much to the political consciousness, especially ... my generation,” she said. “For this to be his finale, it’s a huge cultural moment.”

Stewart’s fans will be forced to navigate the first presidential election since 1996 without his commentary, a loss that felt particularly acute with the first Republican candidates’ debate taking place less than three hours after the taping of his final show.

It’s the third major farewell for a late-night television personality in eight months. Stewart’s Comedy Central colleague Stephen Colbert ended “The Colbert Report” in December. David Letterman signed off from CBS in May, to be replaced this fall by Colbert.